Electric bicycle with personal digital assistant

ABSTRACT

A control system for controlling an electric bicycle is provided, which includes an electric bicycle, an information processing unit, a monitoring device, an input device, and a display. The electric bicycle and the information processing unit exchange information with each other, and the information includes operation data on the electric bicycle, control data for the electric bicycle, exercise programs. The monitoring device monitors bodily condition of a bicycle rider, and communicates the monitored data with the information processing unit and the electric bicycle. Operations of the electrical bicycle are controlled by collected information and data. The operations of the electric bicycle include a power output level, gear shift, RPM, speed, and acceleration, and the operations of the electrical bicycle are controlled so as to keep a heart rate of the bicycle rider at a target heart rate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling andcommunicating with an electric bicycle, and more particularly to thesystem capability to communicate with an electric bike or other humanpowered machine for the purposes of bi-directional exchange ofinformation.

Electric bicycles or other electric assisted vehicles allow a rider toride where they would not normally be able to go. Stationary exercisebikes allow for riders to adjust the workout based on heart rate. Heartrate is used by many exercise programs and coaches as an accurateguideline to the work intensity performed by the person exercising. Aperson may adjust their exercise level to be able to raise or lowertheir heart rate, as monitored by a heart rate monitor, but in manycircumstance, a person may encounter a hill where it is difficult tomaintain their desired target heart rate.

In this invention, the microprocessor in the electric bike or outsidedevice can monitor the heart rate of the rider and then adjust the poweroutput of the bike to keep the rider's heart at the target heart rate.This allows an exercise program that maximizes the training affect for arider. This feature can be especially beneficial for a rider that is invery poor condition and any exertion can easily trigger then in highheart rate levels. The key to getting in shape is exercising a lowerheart rate in the aerobic region. This invention can be very beneficialto persons in poor shape beginning an exercise program or those who havejust had cardiovascular or heart surgery and require monitored heartrate exercise.

A market demand is an electric bicycle having a PDA (personal digitalassistant) to enable information exchange between a rider and anelectric bike. Such information exchange may be implemented in form ofeither extracting data from a bike for service needs or displayinghealth and mechanical information to the rider. An electric bike systemis disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,296,072 and 6,629,574, all thedisclosures of which are incorporated by reference here in theirentirety.

Another demand is to control the power of a bike in response to feedbackfrom a rider through a heart rate monitor or other monitoring device,where an exercise routine may be downloaded directly to the bike from anInternet site or even in real time through cell phone othercommunication device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been contrived to overcome the conventionaldisadvantages and meet the market demands.

An objective of the invention is to provide a control system forcontrolling an electric bicycle.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a system and method forcontrolling electric bicycle using parameters and data collected fromthe bicycle and the rider.

The key to achieving these and other goals is the ability to transmitdata to the bike controller, such that the controller can adjust thepower of the bike and the rider is at the desired target heart rate.This transmission can be done in many ways, one by transmitting theheart rate data or other bodily data, directly to the bikemicroprocessor and the microprocessor in the bike adjusts the power toachieve the desired heart rate as pre-programmed prior to the ride. Analternative is the heart rate signal is sent to another device, such asa PDA and the PDA has the desired exercise program in it. The PDA thencommunicates with the bike via some means, wireless or corded, andinstructs the bike to adjust the power as required. In either case thereneeds to be a means for communicating with the bike from a central hostthat contains the desired programs.

In addition, the PDA or other device can be used to display informationabout the bike such as power, battery state, RPM, speed etc to therider. The PDA may also be GPS enabled and use this information intandem with the bike for generating data or creating heart rateprofiles.

The bike or PDA may communicate directly with the Internet to up anddownload profiles for the rider or other information. The bike can alsobe remotely programmed with new performance parameters or interrogatedfor service status. Again this may be done wireless or through a cablesystem. This allows for diagnostics to be created and the serviceproblems in the bike corrected.

The system could also directly transmit performance and service historyto the manufacture or service facility via wireless or cell phone. GPSposition data could also be transmitted to allow for tracking in thecase of theft or for use in rental fleets. In rental fleets, the GPS inbike or PDA can track bike and transmit location to centralheadquarters. It can also be used to charge the rider through a creditcard means for amount of time bike is used.

In an embodiment, the rider logs onto a web based training system. Theweb based caching system creates a training program and the trainingprofile is then downloaded directly to the bike or the PDA or otherdevice. The rider then goes for a ride, with heart rate monitor attachedto his chest, and the bike keeps his heart rate at desired level asoutlined in the downloaded program.

When the ride is complete, the bike uploads the results of the programto the Web based training program which records the performance and thenadjust the next training program for the rider based on the previousperformance. This is an adaptive system allowing the rider to achievehigher performance levels than by conventional means today.

With GPS enable system the profile of the ride taken by the rider can beuploaded and used for comparison on next rides as to training level ofthe rider. Further, there may be provided a means for communicated withthe bike through USB, serial, Bluetooth or other wireless technology. Inthis means information can be taken out of the bike or new informationsent in.

An aspect of the invention provides a control system for controlling anelectric bicycle comprising an electric bicycle and an informationprocessing unit.

The information processing unit electronically connected to the electricbicycle, and the electric bicycle and the information processing unitexchange information with each other. The information comprisesoperation data on the electric bicycle, control data for the electricbicycle, and a plurality of exercise programs.

A plurality of operations of the electrical bicycle are controlled bythe information processing unit based on the operation data from theelectric bicycle, the control data from the information processing unit,and the plurality of exercise programs.

Another aspect of the invention provides a diagnostic system fordiagnosing an electric bicycle. In an embodiment according to thisaspect, the information processing unit electronically connected to theelectric bicycle, and the electric bicycle and the informationprocessing unit exchange information with each other, the informationcomprising operation data on the electric bicycle. In certain embodimentof this aspect, a plurality of operations of the electrical bicycle aremonitored by the information processing unit based on the operation datafrom the electric bicycle so as to diagnose service problems in theelectric bicycle.

Still another aspect of the invention provides a control system forcontrolling an electric bicycle, which comprises an electric bicycle, aninformation processing unit, a monitoring device, an input device, and adisplay. The information processing unit is electronically connected tothe electric bicycle. The electric bicycle and the informationprocessing unit exchange information with each other, and theinformation comprises operation data on the electric bicycle, controldata for the electric bicycle, a plurality of exercise programs. Themonitoring device is configured to monitor bodily condition of a bicyclerider to produce data, and communicates the monitored data with theinformation processing unit and the electric bicycle. The input deviceis configured to input data into the information processing unit.

The display is configured to display information, and the informationcomprises input and output to the control system, status of the controlsystem, and status of the electric bicycle including power, batterystate, RPM, and speed. A plurality of operations of the electricalbicycle are controlled by the information processing unit based on themonitored data from the monitoring device, the operation data from theelectric bicycle, and the control data from the information processingunit. The plurality of operations of the electric bicycle comprise apower output level, a gear shift, RPM, speed, and acceleration, and theplurality of operations of the electrical bicycle are controlled so asto keep a heart rate of the bicycle rider at a target heart rate.

The information processing unit may comprise a personal digitalassistant, and the display may be integrated with the personal digitalassistant. The personal digital assistant and the electric bicycle cancommunicate with each other through a wireless communication. Thewireless communication may comprise a Bluetooth, a WIFI, and otherwireless communication. Alternatively, the personal digital assistantand the electric bicycle can communicate with each other through a wiredcommunication, and the wired communication may connect the personaldigital assistant and the electric bicycle through a USB cable.

The information processing unit may comprise a microprocessor and acentral processing unit (CPU), which are provided in an external device.The monitoring device may comprise a heart rate monitor, and the heartrate monitor may be configured to be worn by the bicycle rider. Theheart rate monitor and the information processing unit may communicatewith each other through a wireless communication.

The heart rate monitor and the information processing unit cancommunicate with each other through a wired communication. Theinformation processing unit may comprise a personal digital assistant,and the input device may be integrated with the personal digitalassistant.

The power of the electric bicycle may be controlled by the informationprocessing unit so as to maintain the target heart rate of the bicyclerider. The target heart rate may comprise the plurality of exerciseprograms, and each of the plurality of exercise programs can bedownloaded from an external computer network by the informationprocessing unit. The external computer network may comprise an Internetand a server. Each of the plurality of exercise programs may bedownloaded in real time through a cell phone by the informationprocessing unit. The information processing unit may comprises a globalpositioning system (GPS), and the target exercise program may compriseinformation obtained from the GPS.

Still another aspect of the invention provides a control method forcontrolling the electric bicycle using the control system. The controlmethod comprises: setting a target operation of the electric bicyclebased on the input information from the input device; monitoring theoperation data from the electric bicycle; monitoring the monitored datafrom the monitoring device about a status of the bicycle rider, whereinthe status of the bicycle rider comprises a heart rate; calculating afeedback information for the electric bicycle to achieve the targetoperation; and providing the calculated feedback information to theelectric bicycle.

The setting a target operation may comprises: accessing a server in anexternal computer network through a wireless communication; downloadingthe plurality of exercise programs configured to achieve the targetoperation; gathering operational information from the control system;and uploading the gathered operational information to the server.

The gathering operational information may comprise gathering diagnosticinformation for service, performance information, and service history.The control method may further comprise charging the bicycle rider basedon the service history.

The control system has advantages in that: (1) the control systemcontrols the bicycle to allow, for example, a random checkup of arider's heart rate; (2) the control system communicates with theelectric bicycle to monitor the operation of the electric bicycle withefficiency; and (3) the control system monitors the rider's bodilycondition and health information while controlling the electric bicycle.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fullunderstanding of the invention can be obtained by the followingdrawings, detailed description, and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a control system according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a control system according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a control system according to anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method according to anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a partial flowchart illustrating setting a target operationaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3 show control systems according to embodiments of the inventionand FIGS. 4-5 show control methods according to embodiments of theinvention.

An aspect of the invention provides a control system 1000 forcontrolling an electric bicycle comprising an electric bicycle 100 andan information processing unit 200.

The information processing unit 200 electronically connected to theelectric bicycle 100, and the electric bicycle 100 and the informationprocessing unit 200 exchange information with each other. Theinformation comprises operation data on the electric bicycle 100,control data for the electric bicycle 100, and a plurality of exerciseprograms.

A plurality of operations of the electrical bicycle 100 are controlledby the information processing unit 200 based on the operation data fromthe electric bicycle 100, the control data from the informationprocessing unit 200, and the plurality of exercise programs.

Another aspect of the invention provides a diagnostic system 1000 fordiagnosing an electric bicycle. In an embodiment according to thisaspect, the information processing unit 200 electronically connected tothe electric bicycle 100, and the electric bicycle 100 and theinformation processing unit 200 exchange information with each other,the information comprising operation data on the electric bicycle 100.In certain embodiment of this aspect, a plurality of operations of theelectrical bicycle 100 are monitored by the information processing unit200 based on the operation data from the electric bicycle 100 so as todiagnose service problems in the electric bicycle 100.

In certain embodiment, the diagnostic system 1000 may further comprise adisplay and an alarm system for draw the bicycle rider's attention onthe service problems.

Still another aspect of the invention provides a control system 1000 forcontrolling an electric bicycle, which comprises an electric bicycle100, an information processing unit 200, a monitoring device 300, aninput device 400, and a display 500.

The information processing unit 200 is electronically connected to theelectric bicycle 100. The electric bicycle 100 and the informationprocessing unit 200 exchange information with each other, and theinformation comprises, but is not limited to, operation data on theelectric bicycle 100, control data for the electric bicycle 100, aplurality of exercise programs.

The monitoring device 300 is configured to monitor bodily condition of abicycle rider 900 to produce data, and communicates the monitored datawith the information processing unit 200 and the electric bicycle 100.The bicycle rider 900 can ride the electric bicycle 100 with theplurality of exercise programs to achieve a target exercise.

The input device 400 is configured to input data into the informationprocessing unit 200. The bicycle rider 900 sometimes needs to input dataabout weight, riding time, and a target exercise.

The display 500 is configured to display information, and theinformation comprises input and output to the control system 1000,status of the control system 1000, and status of the electric bicycle100 including power, battery state, RPM, and speed. The bicycle rider900 can check the status of him/herself and the electric bicycle 100.The bicycle rider 900 may want to check his/her own performance in realtime.

A plurality of operations of the electrical bicycle 100 are controlledby the information processing unit 200 based on the monitored data fromthe monitoring device 300, the operation data from the electric bicycle100, and the control data from the information processing unit 200. Theplurality of operations of the electric bicycle 100 comprise a poweroutput level, a gear shift, RPM, speed, and acceleration, and theplurality of operations of the electrical bicycle 100 are controlled soas to keep a heart rate of the bicycle rider 900 at a target heart rate.

The plurality of operations of the electrical bicycle 100 can becontrolled to provide any target exercise to the bicycle rider 900. Theworkout load to the bicycle rider 900 can be maintained at a singletarget value, or can be controlled according to a predetermined schedulein time and location.

The information processing unit 200 may comprise a personal digitalassistant, and the display 500 may be integrated with the personaldigital assistant as shown in FIG. 3.

The personal digital assistant and the electric bicycle 100 cancommunicate with each other through a wireless communication (A) asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The wireless communication may comprise aBluetooth, a WIFI, and other wireless communication.

Alternatively, the personal digital assistant comprising the informationprocessing unit 200 and the electric bicycle 100 can communicate witheach other through a wired communication, and the wired communicationmay connect the personal digital assistant 200 as the informationprocessing unit and the electric bicycle 100 through a USB cable, forexample.

The information processing unit 200 may comprise a microprocessor and acentral processing unit (CPU), which are provided in an external device.Alternatively, the microprocessor or CPU may be provided in the electricbicycle 100 itself.

Considering that a heart rate is a good indication of the bodilycondition of a human, the monitoring device 300 may comprise a heartrate monitor, and the heart rate monitor may be configured to be worn bythe bicycle rider 900, for example, around his or her chest. The heartrate monitor 300 and the information processing unit 200 may communicatewith each other through a wireless communication (B) as shown in FIGS. 2and 3.

Alternatively, the heart rate monitor 300 and the information processingunit 200 can communicate with each other through a wired communication.

The information processing unit 200 may comprise a personal digitalassistant, and the input device 400 may be integrated with the personaldigital assistant 200 as shown in FIG. 3. The personal digital assistant200 as the information processing unit may be installed on the electricbicycle 100 such that the bicycle rider 900 can reach the input device400 easily and see the display 500.

The power of the electric bicycle 100 may be controlled by theinformation processing unit 200 so as to maintain the target heart rateof the bicycle rider 900. The target heart rate may comprise theplurality of exercise programs, and each of the plurality of exerciseprograms can be downloaded from an external computer network 600 by theinformation processing unit 200 as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The externalcomputer network 600 may comprise an Internet and a server. Each of theplurality of exercise programs may be downloaded in real time through acell phone (not shown) by the information processing unit 200. In thiscase, the cell phone can be connected to the information processing unit200 by a wireless or wired communication. The external computer network600 can be connected to the information processing unit 200 by awireless or wired communication (C) as shown in FIGS. 1-3, too. Theinformation processing unit 200 may comprises a global positioningsystem (GPS), and the target exercise program may comprise informationobtained from the GPS.

Still another aspect of the invention provides a control method S2000for controlling the electric bicycle 100 using the control system 1000as shown in FIGS. 4-5.

The control method S2000 comprises: setting a target operation of theelectric bicycle based on the input information from the input device(S2010); monitoring the operation data from the electric bicycle(S2020); monitoring the monitored data from the monitoring device abouta status of the bicycle rider 900, wherein the status of the bicyclerider 900 comprises a heart rate (S2030); calculating a feedbackinformation for the electric bicycle to achieve the target operation(S2040); and providing the calculated feedback information to theelectric bicycle (S2050).

The setting a target operation (S2010) may comprises: accessing a serverin an external computer network through a wireless communication(S2012); downloading the plurality of exercise programs configured toachieve the target operation (S2014); gathering operational informationfrom the control system (S2016); and uploading the gathered operationalinformation to the server (S2018). The gathering operational information(S2016) may comprise gathering diagnostic information for service,performance information, and service history. The control method S2000may further comprise charging the bicycle rider 900 based on the servicehistory.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference todifferent embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skills inthe art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the accompanying claims.

1. A control system for controlling an electric bicycle comprising: anelectric bicycle; and an information processing unit electronicallyconnected to the electric bicycle, wherein the electric bicycle and theinformation processing unit exchange information with each other, andwherein the information comprises operation data on the electricbicycle, control data for the electric bicycle, and a plurality ofexercise programs, wherein a plurality of operations of the electricalbicycle are controlled by the information processing unit based on theoperation data from the electric bicycle, the control data from theinformation processing unit, and the plurality of exercise programs. 2.The control system of claim 1, further comprising a display configuredto display information, the information comprising input and output tothe control system, status of the control system, and status of theelectric bicycle including power, battery state, RPM, and speed, whereinthe information processing unit comprises a personal digital assistant,and wherein the display is integrated with the personal digitalassistant.
 3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the personaldigital assistant and the electric bicycle communicate with each otherthrough a wireless communication.
 4. The control system of claim 3,wherein the wireless communication comprises a Bluetooth and a WIFI(wireless fidelity).
 5. The control system of claim 3, wherein thepersonal digital assistant and the electric bicycle communicate witheach other through a wired communication, and wherein the wiredcommunication connects the personal digital assistant and the electricbicycle through a USB (universal serial bus) cable.
 6. The controlsystem of claim 1, wherein the information processing unit comprises amicroprocessor and a central processing unit (CPU), which are providedin an external device.
 7. The control system of claim 1, furthercomprising a monitoring device configured to monitor bodily condition ofa bicycle rider to produce data, the monitoring device communicating themonitored data with the information processing unit and the electricbicycle, wherein the monitoring device comprises a heart rate monitor,wherein the heart rate monitor is configured to be worn by the bicyclerider, and wherein the plurality of operations of the electrical bicycleare controlled by the information processing unit further based on themonitored data from the monitoring device.
 8. The control system ofclaim 7, wherein the heart rate monitor and the information processingunit communicate with each other through a wireless communication. 9.The control system of claim 8, wherein the heart rate monitor and theinformation processing unit communicate with each other through a wiredcommunication.
 10. The control system of claim 1, further comprising aninput device configured to input data into the information processingunit, wherein the information processing unit comprises a personaldigital assistant, and wherein the input device is integrated with thepersonal digital assistant.
 11. The control system of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of operations of the electric bicycle comprise a poweroutput level, a gear shift, RPM (revolutions per minute), speed, andacceleration, and wherein the plurality of operations of the electricalbicycle are controlled so as to keep a heart rate of the bicycle riderat a target heart rate.
 12. The control system of claim 11, wherein thetarget heart rate comprises the plurality of exercise programs, whereineach of the plurality of exercise programs is downloaded from anexternal computer network by the information processing unit, andwherein the external computer network comprises an Internet and aserver.
 13. The control system of claim 12, wherein each of theplurality of exercise programs is downloaded in real time through a cellphone by the information processing unit.
 14. The control system ofclaim 1, wherein the information processing unit comprises a globalpositioning system (GPS), and wherein the target exercise programcomprises information obtained from the GPS.
 15. A control method forcontrolling the electric bicycle using the control system of claim 1,the control method comprising: setting a target operation of theelectric bicycle based on the input information from an input device;monitoring the operation data from the electric bicycle; monitoring abodily status of the bicycle rider using a monitoring device, whereinthe status of the bicycle rider comprises a heart rate; calculating afeedback information for the electric bicycle to achieve a targetoperation; and providing the calculated feedback information to theelectric bicycle.
 16. The control method of claim 15, wherein setting atarget operation comprises: accessing a server in an external computernetwork through a wireless communication; downloading the plurality ofexercise programs configured to achieve the target operation; gatheringoperational information from the control system; and uploading thegathered operational information to the server.
 17. The control methodof claim 16, wherein gathering operational information comprisesgathering diagnostic information for service, performance information,and service history.
 18. The control method of claim 17, furthercomprising charging the bicycle rider based on the service history. 19.A diagnostic system for diagnosing an electric bicycle comprising: anelectric bicycle; and an information processing unit electronicallyconnected to the electric bicycle, wherein the electric bicycle and theinformation processing unit exchange information with each other, andwherein the information comprises operation data on the electricbicycle, wherein a plurality of operations of the electrical bicycle aremonitored by the information processing unit based on the operation datafrom the electric bicycle so as to diagnose service problems in theelectric bicycle.
 20. A control system for controlling an electricbicycle comprising: an electric bicycle; an information processing unitelectronically connected to the electric bicycle, wherein the electricbicycle and the information processing unit exchange information witheach other, and wherein the information comprises operation data on theelectric bicycle, control data for the electric bicycle, a plurality ofexercise programs; a monitoring device configured to monitor bodilycondition of a bicycle rider to produce data, the monitoring devicecommunicating the monitored data with the information processing unitand the electric bicycle; an input device configured to input data intothe information processing unit; a display configured to displayinformation, the information comprising input and output to the controlsystem, status of the control system, and status of the electric bicycleincluding power, battery state, RPM, and speed, wherein a plurality ofoperations of the electrical bicycle are controlled by the informationprocessing unit based on the monitored data from the monitoring device,the operation data from the electric bicycle, and the control data fromthe information processing unit, wherein the plurality of operations ofthe electric bicycle comprise a power output level, a gear shift, RPM(revolutions per minute), speed, and acceleration, and wherein theplurality of operations of the electrical bicycle are controlled so asto keep a heart rate of the bicycle rider at a target heart rate.